World-renowned architect Sir Norman Foster seems to be making a lot of friends in the former Soviet Union, with news of new Foster design proposals in Russia and Central Asia being approved almost every month. Kazakhstan’s capital city Astana already features two Foster designed marvels: a stunning Palace of Peace and Reconciliation pyramid structure and another tent-like development called Khan Shatyry Entertainment Centre soon to be completed late next year. Now, if plans are approved, Kazakhstan will soon see the development of two gigantic twin towers in Almaty, thanks to the iconic British architect.
Almaty is Kazakhstan’s largest city and financial capital, and could soon outshine the glamorous new official capital of Astana with these proposed twin towers. The twin 48 floor skyscrapers are dubbed “Almaty Financial District Fosters Towers”, and at 708 feet, they will be the tallest buildings in Kazakhstan when completed in 2009. New towers and smaller buildings around it will house offices, residential apartments as well as retail spaces on the lower floors. The design also incorporates 1,600 space three story underground garage for the occupants.

The Foster Towers will have glass facades with the firm’s signature diagrid pattern (similar to London’s Gherkin and the Hearst Tower in New York City.) The top of the towers will feature roof gardens where the workers will be able to relax, and the base will incorporate a glass topped canopy with pedestrian walkways connecting the two towers. The development will be located right near the heart of Almaty Financial District. Right now, we can’t find out much architectural detail about the structures, but knowing Foster’s penchantfor high-tech environmental systems, we wouldn’t be surprised to find out that green building techniques are well incorporated into the Almaty Towers design. We look forward to finding out more about this eye-catching design proposal.

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6 Comments

leon21October 20, 2008 at 5:13 am

Doug you are really inforned about Kazakhstan situation, thanks for right understanding..
you noticed very presice that Kazakhstan leader and goverment is working on infrastructure that will meet all 21 century standards, in my opinion its very good desicion to invest into it, and i am not agree with HUGO\’s,
Hugo our government doing all things to invest in people too,if you know that the main target for period untill2030 is to educate high intelligent nation. and every year about 2000 students is send to study in leading universities around the world supported by National Scolarship Bolashak, and myself i am right now is studing design interior in Italy,Florence!! about economy, it takes time,but big steps was done towards opening our market to the world,and also to accsess to it, nowadays buisnessmans is interested in investing local production,which is very good, right now except oil-gas and metal sector of economy, we are going to develop chemical-mineral sector,which will allow to employ more people.
To be honest with you guys,yes we always here from europe comments about Post Soveit Union situation in pessimistic way,and may be there is a true that our leader is authorian,but i must accept that he is very far-seeing polititian,and right now doing well job.

doug lApril 3, 2008 at 2:52 pm

Regarding Hugo’s comments above; I think they indeed may have a better handle on poverty than one might suspect. While hardly a modern democracy it has relatively low population and an utter embarrassment of riches in oil and mineral wealth. The leadership, authoritarian though it might be, is attempting to prepare its people for the future with an infrastructure that will facilitate their entering the 21st century better prepared than many of the so called 1st world countries. Floster’s gigantic tented community in Astana is broaching the scale where cities will no doubt be heading in the future as the need to integrate climate, energy and human needs becomes a more accepted concept in urban planning instead of just a stage for architects individual buildings for the weathy. Can R. Buckminster Fuller’s mile wide geodesic dome be far behind?
Kazahkstan has a long history to deal with and a challenge yet to come but it should not be mistaken for the comedic distortions of Borat.

It is very good to see that Kazakhstan has money to build projects like these. That must mean that they fixed the poverty problems out there. That must mean that everybody (and not only the politicians and businessmen) has a decent medical plan and apropriate housing, unemployment is under control and GNP is on an acceptable level and rising.

If not, try to invest in your people. That is the best basis for a sustainable economy, not some kind of multimillion dollar complex with way to expensivehousing and limited unemployment relief.